One of the best aspects of travel is that it offers us an opportunity to escape. Whether it’s from your job or from day-to-day life, going on vacation is your chance to shake up the ordinary, discover new places, and see amazing things. 

However, it’s important to remember that no matter where you go, you’re still in the real world. And sometimes, the real world can get bumpy. That’s where travel advisories come in. They exist to help us make informed decisions about our destinations. But with all the different warning levels and sweeping declarations about destinations, how do we make sense of them?

Today, Angie Orth welcomes Jessica Fender, a seasoned travel writer and contributor to the Ask the Traveler column in Westways and AAA Explorer magazines. Recently, she wrote about making sense of travel advisories to help travelers demystify these government-issued warnings. 

You’ll learn which agencies issue travel advisories and where you can find the most up-to-date information. You’ll hear about the various advisory levels and what each of them indicates about a destination. She also shares helpful tips on how to navigate travel advisories and get the most out of your trip while keeping safety top of mind.

What You’ll Learn:

• (1:48) Travel advisory basics and why they’re issued 
• (4:31) What the four levels are indicating
• (7:14) Navigating advisories for Mexico and the Caribbean
• (12:31) Trusted websites for understanding specifics
• (14:45) Tips for staying safe when travel advisories are in place 

Connect with Jessica Fender:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fenderama/

Previous Episodes featuring Jessica Fender:

Adventures in Iceland (April 20, 2023)

Australia Adventures (August 31, 2022)

Resources mentioned:

US Department of State Travel Advisories: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advisories: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC): https://www.osac.gov/

Equaldex: https://www.equaldex.com/

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step

National Geographic Article: Is it safe to go there? The U.S. travel advisory system, explained

Connect with AAA:

Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa 

https://clubadventures.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaa-auto-club-enterprises

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises